Thank you!

We did it! The voters of Kitchissippi have delivered a clear mandate for a city that is sustainable, inclusive and safe. Last night, you spoke loud and clear to send me back to City Hall to continue our work to make the city and Kitchissippi Better. Together.

We couldn’t have done this without you. Your support – whether it was a donation, a sign, your volunteer efforts or simply your vote – was critical. On behalf of my campaign team and myself, thank you.

Next week, I’ll be back at the office. I can’t wait to resume my newsletter and pop-ups. It’s going to be a busy term. We’ll refresh our Official Plan, our transportation plan, our waste strategy, our housing strategy and more. You delivered your support yesterday, but the real work begins tomorrow. I need your help more than ever, and look forward to our continued collaboration on the issues that matter.

Better. Together. Four years at City Hall.

I have had the privilege of serving Kitchissippi through four years of change. I’m proud that from the day I was elected I’ve worked with you across the spectrum of city and ward issues to be a strong, thoughtful, vocal and independent advocate for sustainable approaches to city-building.

No two issues require the same approach. I’ve used my vote and my voice to champion your values and your priorities and am proud of what we’ve achieved. We’re still better. Together.

A more thoughtful approach to planning

What gets built where continues to be a ward priority. In this term of Council I’ve worked as a strong advocate for better land-use planning in the face of accelerating intensification pressure:

Worked with Council – and when necessary independently – to advocate with the Province for an end to corporate and developer donations in our elections, and for meaningful Ontario Municipal Board reform

Secured a commitment to revisit the out-of-date plan for Westboro that fails to put reasonable and predictable limits on growth and results in developer-friendly ad hoc planning

Collaborated with the community and businesses to develop a grassroots plan for the future of Armstrong Street that is now guiding change

Been balanced in my votes on planning applications, supporting intensification where it makes sense such as at Westgate, and rallying the community to oppose wild west development where it doesn’t

Championed the community perspective to achieve better infill, coach house and arterial mainstreet zoning rules

Persistent work with multiple stakeholders to rein in the litany of weekly construction complaints

In the next term of Council, I’ll be an independent, vocal champion for our ward and better planning city-wide as we enter into critical reviews of the Official Plan, infill rules, development charges and more. I’ll continue to work to rein in out-of-scale and out-of-character infills that are straining our infrastructure and destroying our urban forest, and to advocate for more honest, transparent decision-making on towers.

A caring ward and city

The residents of our ward care about everyone who lives here, advocating for equity and to maintain a diverse community that all can call home. In this term of Council, I’ve had the opportunity to:

Work with Council, colleagues across the province, and directly with Queen’s Park to achieve critical changes to the Province’s new inclusionary zoning regime

Be the first politician in the city to respond to the Syrian refugee crisis by rallying residents

Vocally support a woman’s right to access health care services such as abortion when City Hall failed to do so

Rally the community against hate in all its forms, including by organizing community demonstrations and supporting our community partners in their efforts to build understanding and tolerance

Focus budget advocacy to successfully achieve the Equi-pass and greater funding for social services

Champion the work of Project Soundcheck to ensure safe festivals and events, and of the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre to advocate for better police response to assaults

Advocate for the creation of a women’s bureau at City Hall

Support with my ward budget opportunities in our Ottawa Community Housing communities to address isolation

Be an ally and champion for harm reduction in the face of the opioid crisis

In the next term of Council, I will continue to use every tool at our disposal to foster a caring, diverse and inclusive Kitchissippi and city, reflecting our ward’s progressive values as we refresh our housing plan and seek to better address inequality.

Successfully advocated for new advance pedestrian lights at Holland and Tyndall, and Richmond and Kirkwood, as well as won four-way stops at Ross and Spencer, Clarendon and Java, and Hamilton and Spencer

Won funding and approval for a new crosswalk at Hilson/Byron and Kirkwood/Iona

Persistently advocated with Council and Queen’s Park for new rules allowing 30 km/h streets, community safety zones, and enforcement cameras, following through with aggressive implementation

Achieved through advocacy the preservation of space to build a west-side O-train multi-use path

Worked directly with builders to ensure safe pedestrian passage around new projects begun in this term of Council, as well as the provision of crossing guards when heavy construction is underway

Insisted on a calmer, safer Scott Street post-bus-detour

Successfully advocated for a common-sense approach to bikes and the LRT to give cyclists safer options

In the next term of Council, I will continue to advocate for the resources and approaches necessary to protect all road users, and to develop a more sustainable transportation policy through the review of the Transportation Master Plan

Greener Kitchissippi

Development is threatening our urban forest, and Kitchissippi residents are demanding action on climate change. In this term of Council, I’ve responded in alignment with the ward’s values on the environment:

Supported with my resources the work of Waste Watch Ottawa to achieve a better approach to waste, including voting against the addition of plastics into our green bin stream when alternatives exist

Achieved a commitment to regular reporting on tree loss, and elevated the urban forest management plan to a Council strategic initiative as well as been the plan’s champion

Worked on a tree-by-tree basis when circumstances demanded to protect our urban forest and press the City for stronger action on enforcement

Successfully worked at Council to achieve stronger and more ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets for our city

In the next term of Council, we’ll debate a new solid waste strategy that will have implications for generations to come. I’ll continue to advocate for long-term environmental thinking that protects our climate, trees and waterways. In our review of infill zoning rules, I’ll advocate strongly for better street tree protection.

Innovative decision-making tools

A ward as engaged as Kitchissippi deserves a councillor who will invest time and funding to create meaningful engagement and undertake evidence-based policy-making. I’ve taken that seriously. In this term of Council, I’ve had the opportunity to:

Re-define the traditional ward newsletter as the foundation of dealing with massive change through better communications

Commission independent research for expert views on critical issues such as re-structuring water rates and traffic congestion, and putting office resources toward research and advocacy efforts such as banning the sale of some live pets in pet stores and approaches to solid waste

In the next term of Council, I’ll build on these tools and approaches, seeking every opportunity to take advantage of technology and my communications channels to engage the ward in even more meaningful ways.

Present and decisive

The ward is undergoing sometimes overwhelming change. I’ve taken my duty to be present, expert and responsive seriously:

On the ground and in the ward when issues arise, around the clock, as when sewer lining went wrong in Hintonburg, learning in-depth how to avoid similar crises in future

Present and involved when traumatic issues arise on our streets such as the Vibe lounge and Abdirahman Abdi’s death, and when the power went out.

Regular attendance and participation in the meetings of Committees on which I do not sit when key ward or City priorities are on the table such as the Vanier mega-shelter, protecting animals sold in pet stores, or approving Uber

Decisive action when the public interest is threatened, such as when buses were proposed to be run on Bayswater for 18 months

Advocating on behalf of the community with other levels of government in collaboration with residents such as when the Tunney’s Pasture daycare was threatened

City councillors are required to be informed, engaged and accessible. In the next term of Council, I’ll continue to take seriously my duty to use my vote and my voice to thoughtfully and decisively protect the public interest in our ward.

A more awesome community

We love our ward. We love our city. For the past four years, I’ve made it my mission to enhance our quality of life by making both even more awesome. Through collaboration, advocacy and investment, I’ve had the opportunity to:

Champion and achieve a funded music strategy for Ottawa working with our Mayor, and consistent support and advocacy for our local festivals

Provide first funding and ongoing support for the SJAM Winter Trail

Built the field house at Van Lang by being the first councillor to borrow (and quickly pay back) needed funds from other wards’ parks accounts

Improve how the Westboro Farmers’ Market integrates into the community, and assure its long-term future in Byron Linear Park

Work with and champion local businesses to build a more vibrant main street

Extend Champlain Park into the NCC green space by reclaiming a road for the community

Host unique special events such as my regular ward campfires and the Tragically Hip concert screening, even getting power to Roy Duncan park for a very special annual tree-lighting

Spearhead a new approach to public use of our spaces working with our BIAs and community groups to eliminate hurdles to programming

Develop a broadly-consulted wards parks plan that brings transparency to how we’ll spend millions on parks improvements in the coming years

In the next term of Council, I’ll continue to work nimbly, collaboratively and creatively to support the people who make Kitchissippi better.